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Fire chiefs warn cuts to TOT allocations could hollow county fire services; board directs talks with administration
Summary
Fire chiefs told the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors that recent preliminary budget choices and how transient‑occupancy‑tax (TOT) money was counted have effectively reduced fire districts' expected shares, risking staff layoffs and deferred equipment; the board adopted a preliminary budget and directed staff to meet with chiefs before the final September budget.
Calaveras County's volunteer and special‑district fire leaders pressed the Board of Supervisors on June 23, saying preliminary budget changes and the county's handling of transient‑occupancy‑tax (TOT) revenue have cut millions from local fire protection funding and threaten staffing and equipment plans.
Chiefs representing multiple Calaveras fire districts told supervisors that voters in 2018 expected roughly a quarter of TOT revenues to augment fire protection. Chief Johnson said the districts had planned operations on that premise and that recent allocations — including a decision to budget the Cal Fire dispatch contract out of general fund headroom and to prorate TOT distributions — have reduced what districts receive. "We like our TOT at 25%," Chief Johnson said. "Even if the contract came in at 100% we were reduced to about 18%."
County staff and counsel gave a different framing: the 2018 TOT measure is a general tax, not a special fund with legally binding percentage allocations, and the board retains discretion in budget choices. Denise Hubner, assistant CEO, cited current fund balances and explained that the dispatch contract is budgeted as a "not to exceed" amount; actual charges have historically been lower than the maximum. County counsel added that the measure listed permitted uses (fire response, sheriff patrols, roads, tourism) but did not create enforceable percentage splits.
The practical effect, chiefs warned, would be immediate and tangible. Bill Winhold, a local fire district chief, told the board that cuts approaching nearly $1 million this year would force departments to return newly acquired equipment and lay off recently hired staff. "There is no doing more with less," Winhold said. "The citizens voted for additional funds to make their fire departments whole. Those improvements are now in immediate jeopardy."
Supervisors acknowledged the chiefs' concerns and noted the board's separate responsibility to balance countywide services. The board approved the preliminary recommended budget — including the staff‑recommended allocation of TOT revenue for FY 2026–27 — but directed county administration to meet with the fire districts to seek alternatives before the board adopts a final budget in September. The board also emphasized the preliminary nature of the vote and that further adjustments could be considered at final budget adoption.
What the board approved today: staff presented a recommended TOT distribution that included a line for the Cal Fire dispatch contract and a modest allocation to fire districts; motions to adopt the preliminary budget and related consent items carried in recorded votes. Supervisors and staff agreed to pursue follow‑up meetings involving county administration and fire chiefs to explore options for preserving emergency services while balancing countywide reductions.
Next steps: county staff will convene meetings with district chiefs and the CEO's office to explore budget adjustments and tradeoffs ahead of the final budget review, currently scheduled for September.
